Our Services
What we run and where
Since 1985, Ronald McDonald House® Eastern Iowa & Western Illinois has run one House and, over time, added two Family Rooms.
The House sits at 730 Hawkins Drive in Iowa City, a short distance from University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital, with 31 private guest rooms. The Family Rooms are inside our partner hospitals — one for families whose child is a patient on the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital, one on the second floor of the Helen G. Nassif Center for Women’s and Children’s Health at UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids for families who have patients in the NICU, Pediatric Unit or Adolescent Psychiatry Unit.
We also stock snack pantries on several units at University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital, so a parent who doesn’t want to leave the unit can still grab a few things to eat.
One House, two Family Rooms, and food on every pediatric floor
What’s the difference between a Ronald McDonald House and a Family Room?
All of it is free, and all of it is for families whose child is being treated.
At a Ronald McDonald House, you receive a private room with your own bathroom. At a Ronald McDonald House Family Room, you get access to a refuge on your child’s hospital floor — a kitchen, a living room, and showers. In Iowa City and Cedar Rapids, that includes private sleep rooms you can request a night at a time.
Where to find us
Ronald McDonald House Iowa City
31 private guest rooms a few minutes from University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital, for families staying while their child is receiving treatment.
Ronald McDonald House Family Room — University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital
A place to eat, shower and rest for families with a child in the Pediatric ICU or Pediatric Cardiac ICU.
Ronald McDonald House Family Room — UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s Hospital
A place to eat, shower and rest for families with a child in the NICU, Pediatric Unit, or the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Unit
Snacks on the House
Snack pantries located throughout University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital, so family members can grab a few items without leaving their child’s unit.
31
Private guest rooms at the House, each with its own bathroom
2,100
Families served in 2025
11,900
Nights of lodging provided to families in Iowa City and Cedar Rapids
Answering your questions
Can we stay at the House?
The age, distance and eligibility rules in plain language.
How do we ask to stay?
How the waitlist works, what to have ready when you call.
What's it like?
Rooms, meals, parking, laundry, the day-to-day of staying here.
All of it runs on community
A room stays clean, a pantry stays stocked, and a shuttle runs to the hospital because our community has decided those things should happen. Help us serve another family today.